However, the question goes on to say:
Let * denote the binary operation of matrix multiplication on M. Show that I is the identity element of M under *, and find the inverse of any arbitrary matrix of M.

Find two distinct elements x E M which satisfy x * x * x * x = I.

I don't know how to do this. Please help!

Nov 7th 2006, 10:49 AM

ThePerfectHacker

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgpretty

Let * denote the binary operation of matrix multiplication on M. Show that I is the identity element of M under *, and find the inverse of any arbitrary matrix of M.

Find two distinct elements x E M which satisfy x * x * x * x = I.

I don't know how to do this. Please help!

If you drop the zero matrix then the determinant is hence all matrices are invertible.
Which means you have a group under matrix multiplication.

What you need is such as,
Hence you need an element in whose order divides 4, that is 1,2,4.
The first case is simple.
The only element of order 1 is the identity element which satisfies that equation. Now just find an element of order two (and it will be different from the indentity element because it has different order).
That means,
Solve,
One such possibility is
Hence,
(Remember to check because these are necessary though not suffienct conditions).

Nov 7th 2006, 11:57 AM

topsquark

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgpretty

I have a question for which I need help:

Let M consist of all 2*2 matrices of the form

Code:

[a b]
[-b a]

Show that the product of the two matrices in M is a matrix in M.

Here's my attempt:

Code:

[a b][a b] = [a^2-b^2 ab+ab]
[-b a][-b a] [-ab-ab -b^2+a^2]

= [a^2-b^2 2ab]
[-2ab -b^2+a^2]

.: the product of two matrices in M is a matrix is M. Simple enough!

I should note that in your first problem you are merely showing, given a matrix , that . What you need to do is define two matrices and show that where A and B are not necessarily the same.

The proof is nearly identical to what you have done above.

-Dan

Nov 7th 2006, 12:35 PM

Soroban

Hello, kgpretty!

Quote:

Let consist of all 2x2 matrices of the form: .

Show that the product of the two matrices in is a matrix in

You squared a matrix . . . We should use any two matrices.

This product is of the proper form for . . The two elements on the major diagonal are equal.. . The two elements on the minor diagonal are equal with opposite signs.

Quote:

Let * denote the binary operation of matrix multiplication on .
Show that is the identity element of under *.